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This page discusses Libertarian and political ideas. Our [contact/survey] and [advertising] are available separately (to open each in a new window, right click, press and hold or click with Option key and in the context menu choose Open in a New Tab.

This blog belongs to an immigrant who spent a few decades in Toronto, where she or he attended high-school and undergrad studies at University of Toronto, St George campus. It discusses mostly political or ethical issues under a pseudonymous identity. Articles published here may or may not reflect the views of the blog owner and may or may not be written by him or her – in keeping with the creed that ideas are far more important than the person who creates them, and considering the open season on alternative viewpoints, this blog might even host the opinions of strangers. Even when written by him or her, the views expressed here are likely to change in time.

If anything bothers you and makes you think too much, protect yourself by considering it a pamphlet. This blog should not be read by anyone, especially children.

Though self-identified as “libertarian” (which is not "libertine" but it simply means, in most cases, "fiscally conservative and socially tolerant"), the author has an different understanding of this term than many who also identify as such and is of the opinion that that this term is widely misunderstood and misused. The following are the results of a test taken sometime between 2008 and 2011 (clicking will take you to the test sites).

The Political Compass Economic Left/Right: 0.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.56

Both quiz-diagrams are based on the simple observation that the political spectrum is not uni-dimensional but rather (at least) bi-dimensional. Although we generally categorize political party and politicians in “left” and “right” (as well as “center”, “center-right” and “center-left”), a more structured approach involves plotting economic freedoms vs personal freedoms. Furthermore, “left” and “right” have slightly different meanings in Europe and North America. In USA (at least), liberal means left, as it relates primarily to social rights, whereas in Europe liberal is on the right, as it refers to reforming the economy toward more freedom and less regulation. Political and even economic ramblings coming from the USA often use liberal in a pejorative sense.

The blog owner tends to value personal freedoms far more than the economic ones, although would prefer that both are maximized. The owner also does not consider a libertarian state viable at the present time, mostly because most people do not care enough about these issues to have educated themselves in these matters. Though the ideal world is for some of us libertarian, we are painfully aware that it cannot function unless we all become libertarian, which is unlikely to happen as most people do not know what the word means and are perhaps happier that way.

If the two tests we started with are affected by reality, the next one reflects much more the kind of world and government we want to live in and “under”

In this context, we need to mention two diagrams: Nolan and Pournelle. Nolan is the initiator of this “diagramming” and is, as expected, a libertarian. All these quizzes are based on his idea, nicely packaged so that people don’t get scared by the word “libertarian” because, as we all know, freedom is scary. A diagram that seems to have preceded Nolan’s is Pournelle’s, who tries to map ideologies based on reason.

^| Nolan Pournelle ->

General political spectrum

Hans Slomp projection of the European political spectrum. Clickable.

More political characterizations the clickable political spectrum map above.

Now that we have gone through these minimal notions, I can summarize my position as follows:

the author believes in maximizing both personal and economic freedoms, but while he or she considers personal freedoms sacrosanct, he or she thinks economic freedoms may sometimes be reduced and doesn’t think that government should necessarily be the enemy, though it often is (see Scandinavia).

Most other libertarians are not as flexible – they consider that economic freedoms guarantee personal freedoms and restricting economic freedoms ends up restricting personal freedoms. I have yet to make up my mind, but I tend to believe that insuring an equal start, as flawed an effort as it may be, it is worth some limited economic restrictions; again, most libertarians see that as a slippery slope leading to an ever-increasing government.

There are both right-libertarians (Milton Friedman) and left-libertarians (Noam Chomsky).

There are many neo-conservatives and / or ultra-conservatives who may call themselves “Libertarian” while being quite far from libertarian ideas.

no control on immigration except control by local governments on overcrowding in public places, pro gun ownership, drugs and prostitution should be legal, pro choice but avoiding the killing of viable fetuses where possible, pro gay marriage, against euthanasia (by medical care providers) primarily because personal choice in this matter cannot be guaranteed, but can be easily exercised by refusing nutrition, reducing taxation and the size of government and simplifying legislation with a view to elimination